history
The Great Barrier Reef is an important part in the history and culture of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Cultural sites and values are on many islands and reefs in the Great Barrier Reef Region. Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders have fished, hunted and navigated between the islands of its coast. An important aspect of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island culture are animals such as dugongs and turtles, the have been apart of Aboriginal dreaming for a long time. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island were traditional land owners of the Great Barrier Reef.
The first person to record existence of the reef was Captain James Cook when he sailed up the east coast of the continent. But it was Matthew Flinders who named the reef the Great Barrier Reef, he charted a safe passage (unlike Cook) and sent small boats ahead to sound the depths.
The first person to record existence of the reef was Captain James Cook when he sailed up the east coast of the continent. But it was Matthew Flinders who named the reef the Great Barrier Reef, he charted a safe passage (unlike Cook) and sent small boats ahead to sound the depths.